Spending cuts 'hit police numbers'

A chief constable has warned that Government spending cuts will have an "impact" on frontline policing.

Julie Spence, head of Cambridgeshire Police, said she has already ordered a recruitment freeze and a "root and branch review" of overtime management.

She said more than £1 million is being "trimmed" from her force's annual Government grant, and senior officers are "constantly" seeking ways of saving money.

"I think we all knew that the cuts, when they came, would be tough," said Mrs Spence in a weekly internet message.

"What we weren't quite expecting was the significant £1.2 million trimming of this year's Government grant to the force.

"As you might expect, we are constantly seeking ways of saving money, and work had already intensified in anticipation of lean times ahead, including the setting up of a budget taskforce to examine each and every suggestion for economising.

"We have ordered a freeze in recruitment of police staff for the foreseeable future and a root and branch review of the way we manage police officer overtime."

She added: "However grim the clampdown on spending becomes, our priority - indeed our duty - is to ensure that we continue to police communities and neighbourhoods at today's levels.

"That will not be easy and if further cuts come there is no doubt that, despite our best efforts, there will be an impact on frontline services."